Greg Joseph, the veteran kicker, won’t be donning the Vikings’ colors in 2024, but he’s set to stay within the NFC North. In a recent announcement by his agent Brett Tessler, Joseph has inked a deal with the Packers.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Joseph’s one-year contract could see him pocketing up to $1.3 million. Tessler mentioned that Joseph had attracted interest from various teams, but he opted to join the Green Bay squad. His role with the Packers will involve providing seasoned competition alongside Anders Carlson during the upcoming offseason.
Carlson, who took over from Mason Crosby as a rookie in 2023, displayed promise with a 90.9% success rate in 2020. However, his accuracy dipped in subsequent seasons at Auburn. Despite this, the Packers showed faith in the 25-year-old at the start of the year.
During the regular season, Carlson made 27 of 33 field goal attempts, boasting an accuracy rate of 81.8%. Notably, he struggled with four misses from the 40-49 yard range and five missed extra points. In the postseason, he went two-for-three on field goals and successfully converted seven of eight extra points.
While Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst publicly backed Carlson in the summer, the team has opted to bolster its kicking options after a thorough evaluation. Joseph, who handled kicking duties for the Vikings over the past three seasons, brings experience to the table. He achieved an 82.2% success rate in field goals during his tenure in Minnesota, peaking with an 86.8% accuracy rate in 2021. Additionally, Joseph maintained consistency in extra points, going 112-for-124 during his Vikings stint.
Tessler also highlighted Joseph’s league-leading touchback percentage in the 2021 season, though changes in kickoff rules may lessen its significance in 2024. Nevertheless, Joseph’s track record of reliability could give him an edge, especially considering Carlson’s fluctuating performance in his rookie year. As the Packers gear up for summer activities, a kicking competition will be on the agenda, with Joseph entering the fray as a seasoned contender.
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